Case Number 03394: Small Claims Court

DESPERADO: SPECIAL EDITION

The Charge

The Case

I'll try not to plagiarize myself from my concurrent review of El
Mariachi, but as the two films are so intertwined, this may all sound very
familiar before it's over.

Doing a Memento...

Previously reviewed by former Judge Norman Short, Desperado has been
released to DVD numerous times, including a Superbit version. Judge Short
reviewed two of these discs, and links to these verdicts are provided on the
right-hand side of this review. What makes this latest incarnation different
from its predecessors? Very, very little. Carrying the excellent transfers from
the Superbit version -- sans the DTS track, naturally -- and the bonus materials
from an even earlier release, this "special edition" release can only
say it brings one new thing to the table: a sneak peek at director Robert
Rodriguez's third movie in the "Mariachi" trilogy, Once Upon a Time
in Mexico. And that's it. Why is this a "special edition"? Because
they've run out of titles at this point.

Not having viewed any of the previous DVD releases, I would have to posit
that the transfers on this disc are the ones that were used on the Superbit
disc. I found no flaws, and the video is excellent: colors pop from the screen,
blacks appear bottomless, and sharpness and detail add depth and dimensionality
to the transfer. There is nothing to quibble about with the video. The audio
transfer, too, is thoroughly encompassing, and your system will come alive from
all directions with sparkling dialogue, thunderous bass, and dynamic use of the
surrounds. Though available, the DTS track was left off, probably because
Columbia decided that there wasn't enough room to squeeze it all onto one disc
comfortably. If they had, it may have undermined their Superbit propaganda.

The special features follow the same pattern as the El Mariachi disc,
but they aren't as good as those. Robert Rodriguez offers up another fascinating
commentary track, but it's not as compelling as his effort on El
Mariachi. Next, you get "10 More Minutes with Robert Rodriguez: Anatomy
of a Shootout." After the first "10 Minutes," I had very high
hopes for this follow-up, but I found it lifeless and stale. It wasn't as
personal as the first featurette. Rounding out the bonus items are the trailer
and some filmographies. The sneak peek at Once Upon a Time in Mexico is
the usual fluff piece and is not anything special.

Desperado itself seems to mirror the quality of the bonus materials
as compared to El Mariachi. This sequel/remake is very entertaining, yet
it is missing the zeal and inspiration that makes the first film so fresh and
enjoyable. It is good, but it is lacking in its approach. How? My main concern
is the repetition in the motivation for our mariachi: revenge. This was the same
thing that happened in the first film -- and it'll be the same thing that
happens in the third film. Yes, this is a "remake" of El
Mariachi, but not really. Truly, Desperado picks up where we left
off, and the story of our newly minted vigilante progresses as he hunts down his
adversaries. As such, it is a sequel. But, many scenes do mirror those from
El Mariachi, and it's instantly obvious that Rodriquez wanted to revisit
(remake) those scenes with his bigger stars, bigger budget, and better
equipment. This whole sequel/remake tandem seems to bog the film down at
times.

Another item of dismay on my point is the exaggerated violence. In the first
film, gunfights are portrayed "realistically" (for movies); but in
this film, when people are shot, they fly across the room in comic book fashion.
After watching both films, I found the original's approach was better and kept
the tale cemented in some sort of reality. But, that's not what Rodriguez
wanted. In all truthfulness, this exaggerated approach does work for this film
-- but it will get too over-the-top in the final installment of the series.

Shedding the cast of unknowns for an eclectic group of actors including
Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Quentin Tarantino, and Steve
Buscemi, Desperado instantly distances itself from its meager roots.
Rodriguez takes it even further by utilizing his Hollywood budget to stage
elaborate gunfights, have big explosions, and expand into fancy camerawork.
Desperado is a slick and beautiful re-imagination of El Mariachi.
And, speaking of beautiful, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the lovely
delights of Ms. Hayek in this film. Exuding sultriness from every pore, Hayek
creates the character that can truly win the despondent Mariachi's heart.

I would also be remiss if I failed to mention Banderas' hair. This style is
awesome, and he never looks better than he does in this film. He should be
required to keep this cut for all his movies.

In this film, Banderas takes over the role of the mariachi, a man who lost
the woman he loved. His passion for her was so strong that he has dedicated his
life to the pursuit of all those who contributed to her wrongful death. Though
everything arose because of a case of mistaken identity, the mariachi has
assumed that identity and become the most feared killer in Mexico. He is now a
legend.

Desperado is a worthy sequel to the cult favorite El Mariachi.
It may be lacking a few of the original's notes of innovation and verve, but it
makes up for it with a shiny picture that crackles with polish. As always, the
multi-dip question rears its ugly head, and I now have to help you determine if
this version is worthy of purchase:

* If you do not own any copy of Desperado, then this is your best
bet. It has the bonus materials, the great transfers (but no DTS), and the best
price. * If you already own a previous copy of Desperado, then you
should not buy this copy. It has nothing new to offer.

With the retail price of this latest incarnation being only $14.99 (and
available in a two-pack with El Mariachi for only $19.99), there's really
not a good reason for you not to own a copy of this entertaining film.

Distinguishing Marks
* Audio Commentary with Director Robert Rodriguez
* 10 More Minutes with Robert Rodriguez: Anatomy of a Shootout
* Director and Cast Filmographies
* Theatrical Trailer
* Sneak Peak: Once Upon a Time in Mexico